Twelve square miles of paradise, surrounded by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence: this is Nodd, the land of the Grace. It is all Jacob knows. Beyond the fence lies the World, a wicked, terrible place, doomed to destruction. Only the Grace will be spared.

But something is rotten in paradise. A wolf invades Nodd, slaughtering the Grace’s sheep. A new boy arrives from outside, and his scorn and disdain threaten to tarnish Jacob’s contentment. Then, while patrolling the borders of Nodd, Jacob meets Lynna, who tempts him to sample forbidden Worldly pleasures.

Jacob’s faith, his devotion, and his grip on reality are tested as his feelings for Lynna blossom into something greater and the End Days grow ever closer.

Eden West is the story of two worlds, two hearts, the power of faith, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Quotes & Awards

“In this novel that cuts to the core of adolescence, Hautman walks the line between those of pure faith and those who stray, creating full-blooded characters who feel real and flawed.”

Shelf Awareness (starred review)

“A captivating character study, studiously demonstrating the reasons why some people are drawn into cults and quietly revealing how unquestioned power turns rotten. Jacob is a realistic and relatable protagonist, and his complex relationships with those around him—and himself—ring true…A heartbreaking, uplifting, and fantastic read.”

School Library Journal (starred review)

“While projecting a unique and expressive voice in Jacob, Hautman sensitively and gracefully explores powerful ideas about faith and church communities, keeping a deft balance between criticism of religious fervor and deep respect for faith and belief. Thought-provoking and quietly captivating.”

Booklist (starred review)

“Todd Haberkorn gives Jacob’s voice the childlike intensity one would expect from such a sheltered person. He speaks Jacob’s simple declarative sentences with a tone of unwavering faith in the truth that the cult’s leader espouses. But when Jacob befriends a girl from the Outside…Haberkorn’s tone reflects Jacob’s growing doubts and questions as he tries to reconcile what he’s been taught with what he now sees.”

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